How strong is your LinkedIn headline?

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Your LinkedIn headline is important. It appears directly under your name and should capture the essence of your occupation or career target.

Many people use their current job title and company name as a headline, such as “Receptionist at ABC Company” or “Program Coordinator at XYZ Industries.” However headlines that use a current title and company can sometimes pose problems such as these:

• Your current job title does not convey your true job duties
• You were laid off and accepted a lower-level position because you needed a job
• You want to switch careers to a totally different occupation

A better strategy would be to use a headline which contains words that recruiters or potential customers would use to search for someone in your profession. Be specific and try to use impactful words that capture their attention. Here are some examples:

• Award-Winning Public Relations Executive
• Experienced Executive Assistant -- Driven to Go Above and Beyond
• Marketing Leader | Social Media Guru
• Sales Director  -– Leading teams to be top performers in competitive markets

 If you decide it’s time to ramp up your headline, here’s how you can edit it:

1. At the top of your LinkedIn homepage, click the “Me” icon and choose “View Profile”
2. Click the Edit (pencil) icon located to the right of your name and current headline
3. On the next screen, make your changes and click “Save”

Strong headlines are compelling. They stand out and from the blah ones and can make a difference.

Now is the Time to Get Active on LinkedIn

According to a Jobvite 2014 national survey, 94 percent of recruiters are active on LinkedIn, but only 36 percent of job seekers are actively involved. This does not surprise me. Throughout the years, I have found that many of my clients are on LinkedIn, but most are not active in it and most do not realize the many benefits that LinkedIn offers.

LinkedIn is more than just a platform where a person can find jobs; it's a place where recruiters can find you. One important tip I offer to individuals during my LinkedIn training sessions, is to have a strong headline (the words which appear under your name). Think about what words a recruiter would use to search for someone in your profession. For example, one of my clients is currently completing her Masters in Public Health (MHP) with a focus in Health Promotion. In her situation, "Health Promotion Professional" would be a good headline. Then, after she gets her master's degree, she could change it to "MPH - Health Promotion Professional." 

It's also important to join (and be active in) groups on LinkedIn. In the example above, my suggestion to this individual would be to join health promotion/public health groups, job seeking groups, networking groups in her community, and also her alumni association group. Jobs are often times posted in these groups, but this individual could also participate in discussions (if she has something credible to add), and doing this would increase her visibility on LinkedIn. There are several other strategies for using groups, but in addition to groups, there are many more ways that LinkedIn can benefit you professionally and boost your career success.

As mentioned in the first paragraph, with such a small number of job seekers active in LinkedIn, now is the time to get active on LinkedIn! With 94 percent of recruiters using this social media platform, you have a huge advantage over the competition. And, even if you're not a job seeker, by increasing your activity on LinkedIn and building your connections, if you suddenly find yourself without a job, you will have an immediate network to draw upon.

Customize the URL for Your LinkedIn Profile & Include it on Your Resume

A shortened LinkedIn URL that's customized to your name presents more of a professional image because it will be branded to your name and will not have extra letters and numbers behind it. Here is an example of a before and after URL:

BEFORE: www.linkedin.com/pub/janey-jobseeker/12/6a3.502/ 
AFTER:  www.linkedin.com/pub/janeyjobseeker

If you haven't already done so, here is how to change it:

1. Go under the Profile tab and click Edit Profile.
2. Under your picture click edit.
3. Then on the right-hand side, about halfway down, you can customize 

Once the URL is customized, include it as part of the contact information on your resume and cover letter, in your email signature line, and even on your business/networking cards.

Six Reasons You Should Use LinkedIn Groups

LinkedIn offers members the opportunity to participate in many different types of groups (job seeking, alumni, industry-specific, networking, etc.), and users can benefit in many ways:

1.  Finding Jobs. Human resource professionals often post job openings to groups. And, these groups do not have to be job-seeking groups. I've seen jobs posted to alumni groups, industry-specific groups, and networking groups.

2.  Marketing Yourself (Part 1). Recently, in a LinkedIn networking group (which is comprised of local members) an individual posted that he was changing careers and was looking for advice from group members on how his past experience could bridge him to his new career. I've also seen people market themselves by posting that they are actively seeking career opportunities in XXX. What a great way to let potential employers know your skills/value and that you are looking for work.

3.  Marketing Yourself (Part 2). Let's say you are currently employed, but are also looking for another job. You don't want to announce to a group that you are looking, so showcase your knowledge and experience by responding to any questions that may relate to your occupation/industry. What a great way to establish credibility and increase your visibility to potential employers.

4.  Increasing Your Knowledge. Learn new trends, get new ideas, and gain new insight by reading questions and answers from other participants. And, don't forget ... if there's a specific question you have, post it to the group.

5.  Hiring Managers and Recruiters Can Find You. Every time you post or respond to a posting, you are not only increasing your visibility with your group members (as mentioned in #3), but you are increasing your visibility with your LinkedIn connections (who will see your activity in their activity feed).

6.  Emailing Individuals Who Are Not Your Connections. Unlike Facebook, you cannot send a message to anyone on LinkedIn (unless you purchase an upgraded version). But, with the standard LinkedIn (which most people utilize), you can send a message to your connections AND you can also send a message to anyone who is in the same group as you. So, if there is a specific individual who you want to contact, and if you and this individual are a member of the same group, you can send him/her a message!

Are you participating in LinkedIn groups? If not, it's time to start managing your career!

Using Your LinkedIn Recommendations

Did you know that with LinkedIn recommendations you can use them in some strategic ways? Whether you’re a job seeker or trying to grow your business, here are a couple hints I provide during my LinkedIn trainings:

For Business Professionals: Use excerpts of recommendations on your website and in your marketing materials. Testimonials from satisfied customers are a great way to generate new business.

For Job Seekers: In the profile/summary of your resume, include a small subheading at the end of your summary. Here's an example:

Select Excerpts from LinkedIn Recommendations:

"... well versed in customer service and office management ...
... grateful for her dedication to the department ...
... plays an important role in improving departmental procedures ..."

For Both Job Seekers and Business Professionals: At the end of your marketing emails, use a postscript with a link to your LinkedIn profile: For example, P.S. Please visit my LinkedIn profile for a quick glimpse of my experience and to view my recommendations.